Do you want to increase your influence and impact? Then you might be interested in a recent article in the International Small Business Journal. It explains four language strategies that successful entrepreneurs use to  increase their influence. These are all research-based, so  you know they are effective.

1. Help your listener fill in the blanks

According to the article, influential entrepreneurs often leave room for their listeners’ imaginations to fill in details when they’re describing the future. This works because it  allows the listeners to create their own mental images and become invested in the idea or plan. As a result, they are more likely to support it.

2. Turn imagination into reality

Researchers discovered that successful pitches frequently describe an idea as though it already exists.  For example, an entrepreneur might say  “This is how we’re revolutionising communication” instead of  “This idea could revolutionise communication” By using this strategy, the entrepreneur is presenting the idea as a reality and showing confidence in its potential success. This can be very persuasive to investors and other stakeholders.

3. Show you understand their needs

The study of successful entrepreneurs found that they establish connections between their ideas and the needs of their audience. From this, you can learn the value of understanding stakeholders’ needs and showing that you understand  them. This will make you more credible and build trust, ultimately increasing your influence.

4. Use concrete examples

The article also emphasises the importance of using concrete examples to illustrate your ideas. This helps to make abstract concepts more relatable and tangible for listeners, making it easier for them to understand and support your ideas. Additionally, using real-life examples can help to establish credibility and demonstrate the potential success

5. Power up with data

The study revealed that persuasive entrepreneurs are very selective about the data they use to support their arguments. They handpick evidence to  align with their main message. Plus, they only use small amounts of data to avoid overwhelming their audience. This highlights the importance of using data strategically to back up your ideas and make a stronger case for them.

To delve deeper into this fascinating study and learn more about the impact of high-impact language, read the original article here.

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.